Indian athletes won medals in shooting and MMA at Asian Games, defeating Pakistan

In the third T20 International match between India (IND) and Afghanistan (AFG) in Delhi, at Arun Jaitley Stadium, India secured a convincing victory with a score of 127 runs. This win allowed India to sweep the three-match series 3-0. The main hero of this match was Abhishek Sharma, who achieved a historic feat by reaching a century in just 30 balls.

India started the game by scoring 221 runs in 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma demonstrated incredible batting, scoring 108 runs off just 34 balls. His performance was supported by Sanju Samson, who also scored 50 runs, helping the team build a strong foundation. Following this, Indian bowlers restricted Afghanistan to only 94 runs in 14.1 overs.

This triumph marked Abhishek's third century in T20 Internationals. It was the fastest century among Indian players in T20 Internationals, as well as the fastest century among full member players in T20 Internationals. Overall, it is his third fastest century in the history of T20 International cricket.

During the celebration of the victory, Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran joined the Indian team and captain Shreyas Iyer. In the match, Afghanistan managed to score only 94 runs, with Ibrahim Zadran scoring the most points—25. Indian bowlers, such as Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi, showed outstanding play, each taking three wickets, while Axar Patel also added two wickets.

The victory by 127 runs concluded the series, which India won 3-0. Earlier, India had won the first two matches of the series, achieving a major victory in the third match.

After the game, Abhishek's father, Rajkumar Sharma, told PTI in an interview that his son possesses a huge passion for training, which prevents him from paying attention to anything else. He noted that he invited his son home, but he did not come because his achievements are the result of diligent training and hard work.

Rajkumar expressed hope that Abhishek will continue to play in the same spirit and maintain this energy to keep winning matches. He also mentioned that his son meditates a lot, waking up at 4 am, which helps him maintain high concentration. Regarding the viral celebration, he said that if he did it on premises that are a temple or gurdwara, then it is very good, and he wishes that God continues to bless him and help him deliver similar performances in the future.

The true strength of a sports team is determined not only by its starting eleven; it manifests when multiple stars are available simultaneously, yet the team's level does not drop. In the coming weeks, Indian cricket will face such a test: an ODI series against the West Indies will take place while the Asian Games are being held in Japan. The question is not who replaces whom, but whether India possesses sufficient squad depth to field two strong international teams at once.

This situation presents more of an examination than a problem for Indian cricket. Many players selected for the T20 format Asian Games were previously part of India's plans for the ODI format. Consequently, some recognized names will be unavailable during the start of the ODI series against the West Indies. It is under these conditions that the true reserve power of Indian cricket can be revealed.

For instance, Ishan Kishan will be available for the Asian Games as a wicketkeeper. However, this does not mean that Rishabh Pant should be considered the only replacement for him in the ODI team. A more important question is which wicketkeeper, besides Kelleh Rahul, can be a reliable choice for use during the 2027 World Cup?

Pant's name naturally surfaces because he is a big-match player, and his ODI statistics are favorable. Nevertheless, if he is given a chance, it cannot be seen merely as a return of a star. It must become an opportunity to test what role Pant can play in the next World Cup cycle. Another figure in this picture is Dhruv Jurel. Therefore, it is more important to develop a complete backup plan than to give a chance to one player.

A similar situation is observed in the batting department. Shreyas Iyer will captain the Asian Games, which may give chances to batsmen like Rituraj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the ODI series. In both cases, the question is not just about form. The question is whether Indian batsmen who can step in for the primary players are ready without lowering the quality of the team?

Yashasvi's situation is particularly interesting. Despite scoring two centuries in the last three ODI matches, if he does not secure a spot in the regular ODI lineup, it will not just be the disappointment of one player. It will call into question how Indian selectors determine their priorities for the future.

The challenge in bowling is even greater. Since Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh will be available for the Asian Games, other fast bowlers may be tasked with responsibility in the ODI series. Mohammed Siraj, Mayank Yadav, and other options will get a chance to prove their worth.

This is where India's true depth will be shown. After all, great teams are not defined by whether they have a bowler like Bumrah. They are defined by how reliable the next bowler is if Bumrah is unavailable. In tournaments like the World Cup, injuries, workload, and form can change the equation at any moment. Therefore, having a second line is not a luxury, but a necessity.

The same test awaits all-rounders. If Axar Patel participates in the Asian Games, it could open the door for Ravindra Jadeja's return to ODIs. But it is not enough to just consider this as the return of an experienced player. Selectors also need to determine what type of all-rounder the team requires for the next major tournament.

Changes have been made to the schedule of several key men's cricket matches at the 2026 Asian Games. According to the updated program, games previously planned for daytime will now start one hour earlier according to Japan time, specifically at 13:30 instead of 14:00. This change will directly affect the Indian team's quarterfinal match. Meanwhile, the schedule for women's matches remains unchanged.

The Indian team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's tournament. India's quarterfinal match is scheduled for September 28th at 13:30 local Japan time. Since Japan is 3 hours and 30 minutes ahead of India, the match will begin at 10:00 Indian time. Matches scheduled for the morning will maintain their previous times: they start at 9:00 Japan time, which corresponds to 5:30 AM Indian time.

The changes are not limited to the quarterfinals. The second semi-final, taking place on October 1st, will also start at 13:30. There is a possibility that India will participate in this match. Following that, the gold medal match on October 3rd will also commence at 13:30 Japan time. The first quarterfinal (featuring Pakistan), the first semi-final, and the bronze medal match will take place at 9:00 Japan time.

Sources informed Cricbuzz that the change was caused by early darkness in Japan and the lack of lighting at the venues where the matches are held. Organizers decided to start the games half an hour earlier, considering the potentially long duration of the men's matches. However, information about these changes has not yet reached all interested parties. Representatives of the Indian Olympic Committee have also stated that they do not have information about this adjustment, even though the updated schedule has already been published on the official website.

Preliminary round matches, involving teams from Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Oman, have not been altered. Women's cricket will also proceed according to the original schedule. The women's tournament will start directly with the quarterfinals, with matches being played at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM local time.

It should be noted that the T20I friendly match between India and Japan, scheduled for September 22nd, is not part of the Asian Games program. This match, which will be held at the Sano International Stadium, will start at 13:00 Japan time, corresponding to 9:30 AM Indian time. The 2026 Asian Games will take place from September 19th to October 4th in Itinago.

The roster for the Indian men's team for the 2026 Asian Games includes: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Verma (vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akshar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and Yash Thakur.